Therapeutic appliance



Aug.. 9, 1927. k 1,638,353 R. H. MAXSON THERAPEUTIC APPLIANCE Filed Jan.19, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 9, 1927. 1,638,353

R. H. MAXSON THERAPEUTIC APPLIANCE Filed Jani 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a men/1(0)"; POLL mm H. M/IXGON Patented Au. 9, 1927.

UNITED STATES I 1,638,353- PATENT OFFICE.

HOLLAND H. MAXSON, OF MILTON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY IVIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE BURDICK CORPORATION, OF MILTON, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

THERAPEUTIC APPLIANCE.

Application filed January 19,1923. Serial No. 613,608.

This invention relates to therapeutic appliances.

It relates more particularly to therapeutic appliances for providing radiant energy for the treatment of diseased conditions of the human body.

The invention will be explained as applied to and embodied in a therapeutic appliance in the form of a compress or external applicator although it is susceptible of other applications and embodiments.

Although the appliance chosen to illustrate the invention provides some heat which may be conductively and convectively applied to the body of the patient a part, and perhaps the greater part,'of the therapeutic results obtained are due to invisible and, more or less, externally insensible radiant energy in the form of infra-red rays.

It is now quite generally recognized that active hyperemia in the tissues of the human body, especially in the deeper tissues, is difficult if not impossible of attainment by mere external application of heat. The circulatory system and overlying tissues dissipate the heat so rapidly that it may be impossible to effectively penetrate to the diseased region. Even if the desired penetration is secured, the same may be accomplished (ml by the application of such intensity of ieat as to cause discomfort and even danger to the patient.

It is also recognized that radiant energy in the form of infra-red rays penetrates relatively deeply into the tissues and is thereby converted into or generates heat in overcoming the resistance of the tissues.

The use of infra-red rays of radiant energy has been heretofore employed, either consciously or unconsciously, in the treat ment of disease. However, the production of such rays has been accompanied by the PlOClHCtlOIl of relatively great proportions of short wave-length thermal and luminous rays, which possess relatively less penetra-' bility. Also the glass or other enclosure which ordinarily has been used serves to screen out the longer wave-length infra-red rays.

' One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved therapeutic appliance;

Another object is to provide an appliance which will eiliciently produce and emit infra-red rays without light and with relatively little external heat.

plied to the body which. is safe, simple, reliable,

forms a perfect radiator ergy. Also upon my observation and ex- Another object is to provide an appliance wherein substantially all of the radiant energy generated is available for use.

-Anotl1er object is to provide an appliance which will produce and emit infra-red rays, especially of the longer wave-lengths, in quantity and without discomfort or injury to the patient. 0 Another object is to provide an efficient and simple generator and emitter of infrared rays.

Another object is to provide an infrared ray appliance which may be readily apof a patient.

Another object is to provide an appliance which will localize the region subjected to treatment.

Another object is to'provide an appliance which may be readily used without the constant attendance of an experienced operator.

Another object is to provide an appliance which is rugged and will withstand relatively rough handling and usage.

Another object is to provide an appliance and readily manufactured.

Other objects and advantages will hereinaft-er appear.

An adaptation and embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. A

The views in the drawings are as follows:

1 is a perspective open view of an appliance in the form of a compress particularly adapted for application to a leg or an arm of a patient.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the appliance closed substantially as it will be when applied.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section en the line 33 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4- is a section on the line l& of Fig. 3.

The construction of the appliance is based upon the generally accepted theory that a perfect absorber of radiant energy also of radiant enperience that many materials produce infra-red rays when properly heated.

It has been my aim to provide an approximately perfect radiator (absorber) and heating means therefor so'that infra-red rays, in sufficient amount for therapeutic use, may be produced and emitted unaccomlou panied by relatively large proportions of light and heat rays.

The appliance, when made in the form of a compress, may comprise two similar sections 1 and 2. These sections are hinged together, as will be hereinafter described, so that they may be opened, as shown in Fig. 1, for ready applicatlon to the member of the body to be treated and ma be closed, as shown in Fig. 2, to encircle the member during treatment.

Each section of the appliance comprises a series of radiators or ray generators as they may be called, and since sections 1 and 2 may be alike, only one will be explained in detail.

Each ray generator is produced by a pair of opaque polished reflecting surfaces 3 and 4 convergingly arranged to form an inwardly directedsharp apexed wedge shaped trough or cleft 5. In order to increase the amount of energy emitted a series of similar generators are provided. One test for determining the proper angle between reflecting surfaces 3 from directly in front thereof. If; the recess appears as a black line or band, the light -rays entering the wedge are being substantially' completely:absorbed by repeated reflection between the converging, surfaces. Such a wedge shaped structure will con- 7 formed by bending a sheet of suitable metal,

stitute a similarly efficient radiator.

4 has been found to give good results.-

.A series of parallelgenerators may be such as aluminum, into a seriesv of corrugat1ons. Aluminum 1s. highly satisfactory because it takes a high polish, is easily;

formed, is relatively inelastic, is not fragile and is light in weight.

In the appliance illustrated there are three groups of these wedge shapedgenerat- '1 corrugations whose sides .3 and 4 converge sharp apex 6 at the rear.

at an angle of about five degrees into a I The apices'7 at the front may be rounded asshown so that i when the sheet is subsequently curved to the desired arc, the necessary flexing or bending will practically all take place there;

- leaving the effective angle between the re- 1 or interlocked and pressed tightly together fleeting isurfaces substantially unchanged.

the three groups of generators are folded to form relatively fiat joints 8. These joints .serve to support resilient cleats 9, which are and 4 is to look into the wedge shaped recess or cleft therebetweenor asbestos.

An" angle of approximately five degrees between the confronting reflecting surfaces 3 and secured thereto by screws 10. Cleats 9 are made from suitable resilient material, such as spring steel, and may be covered with soft material such as wool or rubber to prevent contact of metal with the body of the patient. These cleats serve to hold the metal generators from contact with the body and assist in retaining the appliance in proper position.

The interconnected groups of generators and their cleats, when assembled, are fitted into a curved sheath 11. The sheath may be made of metal or other suitable material. The longitudinal edges of sheath 11 are bent inwardly to form tongues 12. Each of these tongues fits within one of the corrugations near the respective ends of the two outside groups of generators. but is heat insulated therefrom by small strips 13 of suitable material such as fiber. A curved end plate 14 serves to close one end of sheath 11 and a similarv end plate 15 closes the other end of the sheath. The ends may be secured to the sheath by suitable "means such as screws, and may be lined with suit able heat insulating material such as fiber A sheet 16, of suitable material such as asbestos, may be interposed between'the generators and sheath 11.

The longitudinal edge of sheath-11 which is to be hinged to the other section is formed at an angle, as shown in 3, to facilitate the proper opening and closing of the appliance. The hinge connection 'may be made by providing adjacent edges :of thesheaths of the two: sections with notches 17. A small metal ring or loop 18 has its opposite ends inserted in. the corresponding notches 17 of the two sections and'then a rod 19 passed therethrough' on the inside of each sheath 11. The end plates hold rods 19 in place. i J 4 In order to clamp .the appliance in place :,on the body the two sections may be provided with straps 20 and suitable, buckles r' or .clasps.

Straps 20, may be anchored 'in place by metal loops 21 projecting from the sheath.

The generators may be heated by suitable means, such as av wire resistor through- WlllCh an electric current is passed. The resistor shown is 1nv the form of an insulated wire 22 which is looped back and forth in the longitudinal troughs provided behind the reflecting surfaces '3 and 4. .Asbestos insulation is satisfactory. In order to provide for the loops of wire at the ends of the troughs, the corrugated sheets may be slotted or made short enough to provide passages through which the Wire may pass The adjacent endsofthe sheets forming.

inside of the end plates,-as' shown most clearly in Fig. 4 The resistorsofthetwo sections 1 and 2 may be connected, in series or parallel. ,Wires 22 lead through-a suitable current regulatingresistance.23 to. a

plug connector 24. Current passing through resistor wire 22 heats the generators and causes the same to emit radiant energy. By properly governing the heating of the generators the character of the energy rays may be controlled. I have found that when the temperature of the generators is raised to a point slightly above normal blood temperatures the emission of long wave-length infra-red rays is great relative to the emission of the shorter wave-length heat rays. This temperature is so low that the visible light rays are entirely eliminated.

A current controlling thermostat 25 may be provided to insure that the temperature of the appliance is maintained within safe limits. The thermostat is shown diagrammatically. A suitable thermostat may be constructed by employing a switch whose operation is controlled by a bimetallic actuator. When the bimetallic actuator is subjected to the desired normal temperatures the switch remains closed and the circuit including resistor wire 22 is closed. When, however, the temperature becomes abnormal the actuator causes the switch to open and the heating circuit is'interrupted. In order that the thermostat responds properly it may be located within the sheath in close proximity to the generators.

An appliance such as herein set forth generates infra-red rays of radiant energy in relatively larger proportions than thermal or visible rays. Because there is no screen, such as glass for example, between the ray-generators and the region to be treated a relatively large percentagepractically allof the rays generated are available for application to a patient.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A therapeutic appliance comprising a pair of opaque reflecting surfaces arranged to form an acute angle between them, and means for heating the surfaces to cause them to emit and reflect radiant energy below the range of visibility.

2. A therapeutic appliance comprising a series of reflecting surfaces converging at acute angles to form a series of approximately perfect radiant energy absorbers, and heater for causing the surfaces to emit and reflect radiant energy.

3. A generator of infra-red rays compris-- ing a reflector having walls converging at an acute angle, and an electrical heater for causing the reflector to generate and emit infra-red rays.

t. A therapeutic appliance comprising a plurality of sections which are hinged to gether so that the appliance may be opened for application and may be closed about a localized area of the body; each section including a series of radiant energy generators composed of a series of converging reflecting surfaces, and a resistor for heating the generators when subjected to the passage of an electric current.

5. A therapeutic appliance comprising a series of reflecting surfaces arranged to form a series of adjoining open acute wedge shape channels, a series of heating electrical resistors between and behind the channels, and a casing for enclosing the backs of the channels and the resistors therebetween.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribed my name.

ROLLAND H. MAXSON. 

